Tag Archives: dogs

Synopsis: Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector, and together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history. This beautifully illustrated Little Golden Book retells all the excitement and adventure of Disney/Pixar’s Coco. It’s perfect for children ages 2 to 5.

Thoughts: I really liked this book. Super cute, vibrant and it seems to show all the symbols of Dia de los Muertos well. I am certain this would be a great book to read aloud to your children or classroom about the movie. Beautifully illustrated and heart warming.

Title: That Pup!Author: Lindsay Barrett GeorgeSeries: —Recommended for: toddlers and preschoolers as a readaloud, but is also a good choice for early readers due to the large print.Pages: 32 p.Call Number/Link: E GEORGE

Rating: *****

Synopsis:

After having fun digging up acorns, a little dog decides to bury them all again.

Comments:

I love this book! Even though you would never guess this based on the cover and OPAC, it is a book about fall. One of my favorite books about fall, in fact. More accurately, it is one of my favorite books takes place in fall but has an actual plot. The reader can see apple trees, autumn leaves, acorns, a squirrel and pumpkins within the illustrations. However, the story is about a little dog who has fun hunting for acorns. When the little dog learns that she has raided squirrel’s winter acorn stash, she plays a new game called Put Back the Acorn.

The book is an excellent readaloud. The large colorful illustrations can definitely be seen from either the front or the back of a storytime room. The book’s only downside is that now I want my own cute little dog. It would be best if it looked exactly like the one in the book.

In this wordless picture book, Polo the dog meets a rabbit named Lily and the two become friends.

Comments:

A big thank you to the patron who almost stumped me this evening. “I’m looking for a book about a dog who lives in a tree. It doesn’t have words. The author is French. I think the dog’s name starts with a P.”

I hadn’t noticed the Polo series before tonight, and am so glad to have discovered it! Although it is a picture book, it feels very much like a graphic novel, which helps it appeal to all ages. Its humor doesn’t hurt either!

Title: Benjamin Bear in Brain Storms!Author: Philippe CoudraySeries: Toon into Reading. Level 2.Recommended for: Kids who like funny books who are in first grade and up. Is intended as an early reader but is funny for anyone who is advanced enough to understand the humor. (Toddlers and younger preschoolers wouldn’t “get” the humor.)Pages: 35 p.Call Number/Link: GN J COUDRAY, P.

Rating: ****

Synopsis:

A collection of one-page comic strips featuring BenjaminBear, a very serious bear who has his own silly logic for doing things

Comments:

The official description may say that Benjamin Bear has his own silly logic for doing things. I considered him a creative, out of the box thinker. There were a couple of times that I thought, “Genius!” There were also several times that I laughed out loud. Some of the cartoons are wordless, some have minimal words and some have text in every frame. Every single one at least made me smile.

It can be difficult to predict what will make people (children and adult alike) laugh, but I will be looking for other Benjamin Bear books on days that I need a giggle.

The official information in the back of the book says that the books is their Level 2. They list equivalencies as: Grades 1-2, Lexile BR-240, Guided reading G-K, Reading Recovery 11-18.

“For one restless pup the waking world is too full of wonder to leave behind at bedtime, until he closes his eyes and finds comfort in his dreams” (Provided by publisher)

Comments:

My first thought after finishing this book was: “Lapsit! Toddler Time!” It could also work for Preschool Storytime. It would be best for storytimes about dogs, bedtime and night time.

It’s a quiet book that could work well as a child’s last bedtime story, just before sleep. Much like Goodnight Moon, the dog’s routine models things that a child can do as they are getting ready to fall asleep. He inventories the house, thinks about favorite parts of his day, remembers words that he knows, curls up in his bed and says, “Goodnight, good dog.” Next thing he knows, it’s morning!

Even though the book is quiet, it could work well for Lapsits and Toddler Time due to the brevity of its text and the cozy, familiar items the dog notices as he prepares to go to sleep.

Synopsis: Amelia and her best friend, Princess Sparkle-Heart, do almost everything together, so when the Princess suffers an accident, Amelia’s mother puts her sewing box to good use and makes the doll better than ever.

Comments: I love this book! It seemed like it would be girly because it’s the story of a girl and her doll, but it’s not. Princess Sparkle-Heart is a perfectly lovely princess doll until [cue ominous music]… a jealous dog tears her to shreds. The result: Amelia’s mom gives Princess Sparkle-Heart an amazing makeover and creates the fiercest princess doll ever!